Thoughts on Life, Love, Politics, Hypocrisy and Coming Out in Mid-Life

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Pope Francis Talks Out of Both Sides of His Mouth on Gays

The National Catholic Reporter - which is not controlled by the Vatican and one of the few sane Catholic news outlets - is reporting that Pope Francis has explained his "who am I to judge" statement on gays which, if one looks at only his words and not his actions, sounds positive. Meanwhile, of course, the Church has opposed gay rights and supported the repeal of same sex marriage in Slovenia. Sadly, Francis' duplicity and dis-ingenuousness is typical of the Church hierarchy. Until the Church makes doctrinal changes and apologizes for centuries of homophobia and horrors inflicted on gays, Francis' words are meaningless, in my view. Indeed, the word hypocrite springs to mind. Here are story excerpts:

Interviewing Pope Francis in July, Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli
asked the pope how he might act as a confessor to a gay person in light
of his now famous remarks in a press conference in 2013, when he asked:
"Who am I to judge?"

Francis' reply appears in a new book The Name of God is Mercy to be released Tuesday.

"On that occasion I said this: If a person is gay and seeks out the
Lord and is willing, who am I to judge that person?" the pope says. "I
was paraphrasing by heart the Catechism of the Catholic Church where it
says that these people should be treated with delicacy and not be
marginalized."

"I am glad that we are talking about 'homosexual people' because
before all else comes the individual person, in his wholeness and
dignity," he continues. "And people should not be defined only by their
sexual tendencies: let us not forget that God loves all his creatures
and we are destined to receive his infinite love."

"I prefer that homosexuals come to confession, that they stay close
to the Lord, and that we pray all together," says Francis. "You can
advise them to pray, show goodwill, show them the way, and accompany
them along it."

Keeping gays second class citizens, opposing CIVIL LAW marriage for same sex couples, and championing license to discriminate laws seems utterly inconsistent with Francis' statement that gays should not be marginalized. If one is gay and Catholic, the best thing one can do is to leave the Church as quickly as possible and to encourage friends and family to do likewise.

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Out gay attorney in a committed relationship; formerly married and father of three wonderful children; sometime activist and political/news junkie; survived coming out in mid-life and hope to share my experiences and reflections with others.
In the career/professional realm, I am affiliated with Caplan & Associates PC where I practice in the areas of real estate, estate planning (Wills, Trusts, Advanced Medical Directives, Financial Powers of Attorney, Durable Medical Powers of Attorney); business law and commercial transactions; formation of corporations and limited liability companies and legal services to the gay, lesbian and transgender community, including birth certificate amendment.

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